Illinois village named the best suburb in America. How did the metro-east fare?
A suburb of Chicago is the best place to live in Illinois, according to a recent report by ranking and review website Niche.
Niche’s report 2026 Best Places to Live in Illinois, published March 23, named Clarendon Hills the No. 1 best place to live in Illinois, as well as the best suburb to live in America.
“Clarendon Hills’ continued recognition in the Niche rankings reflects what residents already know — this is a special place to live,” Paul Dalen, acting village manager, said in a March 24 news release. “From our exceptional schools and safe neighborhoods, to our family-focused downtown events, dedicated local businesses, and outstanding village staff, Clarendon Hills offers a truly unique and high-quality community experience.”
Clarendon Hills received an A+ overall grade from Niche, with an A+ for public schools, A for crime & safety, A+ for “good for families,” B for housing, B+ for diversity and a B+ for nightlife. The suburb’s lowest scores were a C+ for weather and a B- for cost of living.
Life in Clarendon Hills offers a “dense suburban feel,” Niche reports, and more than 84% of housing is owner-occupied.
Illinois’ “best place to live” may not be the most affordable, however, with a median value of owner-occupied housing at $605,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau also reports the median monthly homeowner costs for those with a mortgage is $3,379, while median rent is $1,142 in Clarendon Hills.
To compile its best places to live rankings, Niche used data from the Census Bureau, the FBI, the National Climatic Data Center and more.
How did the metro-east fare?
While no metro-east locales made the top 10 list, Belleville and several others still received high marks from Niche.
Belleville received an A- overall grade, while Swansea got an A, Fairview Heights received an A, East St. Louis received a C, Edwardsville got an A, Collinsville got an A- and Cahokia Township got a B-.
O’Fallon got an A overall grade and was named the No. 1 best place to live in St. Clair County by Niche.
Top 10 best places to live in Illinois
Here’s how the top 10 Best Places to Live in Illinois stacked up, by Niche:
1. Clarendon Hills
2. Naperville
3. Riverside
4. Buffalo Grove
5. Kildeer
6. Lincolnshire
7. Printers Row
8. Western Springs
9. Long Grove
10. La Grange
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